Suspect in UMass Amherst break-in arrested at Hampshire College

AMHERST — Images provided by campus security cameras led to the arrest of a man suspected of stealing a bookbag containing a laptop from a University of Massachusetts office.

Sean C. Miner, 26, who provided an address as the streets of Amherst, was arrested around 10 a.m. Feb. 8 on charges of larceny over $250, larceny under $250, breaking and entering during the daytime to commit a felony and disorderly conduct, Deputy Police Chief Patrick Archbald said Wednesday.

Archbald said that the incident was reported Feb. 8 at 8:28 a.m. by a woman working in Herter Hall who told police she was in her office when a man wearing a brown coat entered and took the bookbag, which had a laptop, cellphone, wallet, passport and other personal items inside it.

“Once he grabbed onto the bookbag, he ran,” Archbald said.

The man discarded everything except the laptop as he fled Herter Hall and made his way to the W.E.B DuBois Library, according to Archbald.

Once police were able to view photos captured by security cameras on campus, and the victim identified the man, Archbald said police officers realized he was probably not a student and might be using a PVTA bus as a means of transportation.

Only 30 minutes after the suspect’s picture was disseminated, a bus driver reported dropping him off at Hampshire College, where Miner was located and taken into custody, Archbald said.

Archbald said the woman whose bookbag was stolen did the right thing by calling for police assistance and not chasing the suspect.

He added that people should try to keep their valuables within reach.

“This is highly unusual. It was a crime of opportunity,” Archbald said.